Fantasy Football Today

Week 23 Fantasy Hitting Planner

Every decision counts this time of year with four weeks remaining in the Fantasy season. Who's hurt? Who's hot? Our Scott White does his best to help you set the best lineup for Week 23 in his latest Hitting Planner.

The Fantasy Baseball Hitting Planner is the essential guide to
setting your lineup for the upcoming week. Every week, we provide you
with news and notes for each team, tracking hot and cold players,
injuries and lineup changes.

All statistics are up to date as of Friday, Sept. 3.

Arizona DiamondbacksSchedule: SF3, @COL3Heating
Up:
Stephen Drew
has finally begun
to tap into some of his long-forgotten potential, batting .444 (16 for
36) with four homers over his last eight games. That's all it takes for
him to go back to being a must-start at the weak shortstop position.
Mark Reynolds
is having maybe his best run of a mostly disappointing
season, batting .320 (8 for 25) with five homers over his last seven
games. His power potential makes him tough to sit even when slumping.
Adam LaRoche
continues to put up big second-half numbers, batting
.303 (50 for 165) with 10 homers since the All-Star break.Cooling
Off:
Kelly Johnson
has hit a dry
spell, going 0 for 15 over his last four games, but he has been too
productive all year for you to sit him because of one little slump.Injury
Concerns:
Justin Upton
left Monday's
game with shoulder pain from a bad swing and hasn't played since.
Manager Kirk Gibson describes him as "just sore," but if he continues to
sit through the weekend, you probably wouldn't want to take any chances
with him. Those shoulders can be tricky. When healthy, he's a must-start.Platoon
Possibilities: The Diamondbacks face three left-handers this week,
but with prospect
Brandon Allen
up from
the minors, their platoon situation is no longer so clear.
Rusty Ryal
will probably continue to start against most of the
lefties, but you can leave him for NL-only leagues.Lineup Changes:
Allen, who hit .261 with 25 homers and a .933 OPS for Triple-A Reno, was
immediately inserted into the starting lineup Wednesday. He's an
outfielder now after coming up as a first baseman. If you need pop in an
NL-only league, he's likely to provide it, but his playing time is up in
the air right now.

Atlanta BravesSchedule: @PIT3, STL4Heating Up:
Jason Heyward
, who hit just .220 (47 for 214) with two homers from
May 31 to Aug. 20 while battling a sore thumb, recently made an
adjustment to compensate for the injury and has taken off, batting .500
(24 for 48) with four homers over his last 12 games. No chance you'd sit
him now. You'd never sit
Martin Prado
or
Brian McCann
, especially not now. Prado is batting .324 (22 for 68)
in 16 games since returning from a broken pinkie, and McCann is batting
.560 (14 for 25) with three homers over his last seven games.Cooling
Off:
Melky Cabrera
may be playing
close to every day, but he's contributing almost nothing offensively,
batting .189 (7 for 37) over his last 13 games.Injury Concerns:
None.Platoon Possibilities: The Braves face one left-hander
this week, which means
Rick Ankiel
should
get the majority of the starts in center field. He typically sits for
Matt Diaz
against lefties.Lineup Changes: With roster
expansion Wednesday, the Braves called up prospect
Freddie Freeman
and activated
Troy Glaus
from the DL. Both could spell
Derrek Lee
at first base, and Glaus could play some third base as well.
Omar Infante
job appears safe, though. Glaus would simply bump him
to the outfield.

Baltimore OriolesSchedule: @NYY3, @DET3Heating
Up:
Matt Wieters
, who has been an
even bigger disappointment in his sophomore season than he was as a
rookie, is playing well right now, batting .435 (10 for 23) over his
last seven games. That's reason enough to start him at the weak catcher
position.Cooling Off:
Josh Bell
is batting .147 (5 for 34) over his last 10 games, which isn't all that
surprising for a free-swinging rookie. Despite his power potential, you
can leave him for AL-only leagues.Injury Concerns:
Adam Jones
, who has been dealing with pain in his shoulder since
getting hit by a pitch there Aug. 24, has only played twice since then
and was out of the lineup Thursday. He's too streaky for most leagues
anyway, so this is just the excuse you need to sit him.Platoon
Possibilities: The Orioles face one lefty this week, but they don't
have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes:
Nolan Reimold
is back up in the majors and has started two games in a
row, but that's partially the result of Jones' injury. He'll need to put
together a serious hot streak for you to pick him up in mixed leagues.

Boston Red SoxSchedule: TB3, @OAK3Heating Up:
Victor Martinez
, who has a tendency to run hot or cold, is clearly on
the right side of that equation now, batting .423 (11 for 26) with three
homers over his last six games. He's a must-start regardless.Cooling
Off:
David Ortiz
is coming off a
decent August, but he's batting just .194 (6 for 31) over his last eight
games. He should still be starting in most leagues.
Daniel Nava
, who is getting the majority of the starts in left field
these days, is batting .133 (4 for 30) over his last 12 games. He's just
an AL-only option.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon
Possibilities: The Red Sox face two left-handers this week. Nava and
Jed Lowrie
will likely sit out those games in favor of
Darnell McDonald
and
Bill Hall
. You can
leave all four for AL-only leagues.Lineup Changes: None.

Scott's Top Sleepers for Week 23

* Sleepers are players started in less than 70 percent of
CBSSports.com leagues

Player

Start %

1.

Ryan Raburn
, OF, Tigers

43

2.

Manny Ramirez
, OF, White Sox

48

3.

Starlin Castro
, SS, Cubs

60

4.

Neil Walker
, 2B, Pirates

47

5.

Adam LaRoche
, 1B, Diamondbacks

60

6.

Jay Bruce
, OF, Reds

58

7.

Yuniesky Betancourt
, SS, Royals

30

8.

Freddy Sanchez
, 2B, Giants

18

9.

Dexter Fowler
, OF, Rockies

20

10.

A.J. Pierzynski
, C, White Sox

43

Chicago CubsSchedule: HOU3, @MIL3Heating Up:
Starlin Castro
seems to have picked up where he left off in mid-August,
collecting multiple hits in four straight games for a .500 (9 for 18)
batting average. Hard to find a shortstop who can do that.
Kosuke Fukudome
still isn't getting everyday at-bats, but he's at
least relevant again, batting .542 (13 for 24) with two homers over his
last eight games.Cooling Off:
Aramis Ramirez
, who has gone back and forth since the All-Star break,
is on the wrong side of streaky now, batting .150 (3 for 20) over his
last six games. He's probably still better than what you'd find off the
waiver wire, though.
Blake DeWitt
, who
got hot enough to claim the leadoff spot when he first came over from
the Dodgers, is batting .077 (2 for 26) over his last seven games,
showing he's still just an NL-only option.Injury Concerns:
Geovany Soto
woke up with a sore right knee Monday and hasn't played
since. He has some fluid in the knee that prevents him from
straightening it out. He might have to sit more often over the final
month because of the injury, but his OPS potential at the weak catcher
position makes him too valuable to sit in Fantasy.Platoon
Possibilities: The Cubs face two left-handers this week, but they
don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

Chicago White SoxSchedule: @DET4, KC3Heating Up:
The White Sox have a trio of players on hitting streaks.
Paul Konerko
has hit safely in 13 straight, batting .472 (25 for 53)
with three homers and 17 RBI.
Juan Pierre
has hit in seven straight and 35 of 37, batting .365 (57 for 156) with
18 stolen bases. And
A.J. Pierzynski
has
hit in 10 straight, batting .395 (17 for 43) with a homer. Konerko is a
must-start during a career season, and Pierre and Pierzynski certainly
aren't bad plays.
Alex Rios
, another
must-start, has been pretty hot himself, batting .379 (11 for 29) with
three homers and four stolen bases over his last seven games.Cooling
Off: Nobody is significantly underachieving right now.Injury
Concerns:
Gordon Beckham
took a
pitch off the wrist Monday and hasn't played since. Nothing is broken,
though, so he should return over the weekend. Unless he gets hot, he's
less than a must-start.Platoon Possibilities: The White Sox
face one left-hander this week, but with the acquisition of
Manny Ramirez
, the days of the
Mark Kotsay
-
Andruw Jones
platoon are pretty much over.Lineup Changes:
The White Sox acquired Ramirez from the Dodgers on a straight waiver
claim Monday and will play him virtually every day at DH. Staying out of
the field should help keep him healthy, so this move can only improve
his Fantasy value. Since he isn't the power hitter he once was, he's
still less than a must-start in Fantasy.

Cincinnati RedsSchedule: @COL4, PIT3Heating Up:
Scott Rolen
, who has had an uneven performance since the All-Star
break, is performing more like an All-Star now, batting .353 (6 for 17)
with five doubles over his last four games. Even though he's not
homering as much anymore, he's still a worthy starter at the depleted
third-base position.Cooling Off:
Jonny Gomes
homered Tuesday, but he's still batting .211 (4 for 19)
over his last six games and .167 (9 for 54) over his last 17. Even when
going well, he hasn't offered huge power numbers, so you can ignore him
in mixed leagues.Injury Concerns:
Jay Bruce
has missed the last couple games with a strained side,
interrupting a streak of five homers in four games. You'll want to keep
an eye out for him this weekend. If he returns, he's a good sleeper.
Brandon Phillips
has missed about a week after getting hit by a pitch
on the right hand, but the swelling has gone down. If the power-speed
threat returns this weekend, you'll want to get him active right away.
Orlando Cabrera
, who has been out since Aug. 2 with strained abdominal
muscles, has begun a rehab assignment and could return this weekend, but
you wouldn't want to activate a borderline option like him fresh off the
DL.Platoon Possibilities: The Reds face one left-hander this
week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup
Changes: None.

Cleveland Indians Schedule: @LAA3, MIN3Heating
Up:
Travis Hafner
is proving his
years of shoulder woes haven't completely ruined him as a hitter,
batting .391 (9 for 23) over his last six games. He's still too
inconsistent for mixed-league use.
Jayson Nix
,
who might actually be the better power hitter of the two these days, is
doing his best to prove it, batting .353 (12 for 34) over his last nine
games. Facing three lefties this week can only help him.Cooling
Off: Nobody is significantly underachieving right now.Injury
Concerns:
Matt LaPorta
has sat out
all week with a strained left hip, but he felt great after taking
batting practice and ground balls Thursday. He has a good chance of
returning over the weekend, but considering he was batting .140 (8 for
57) in the 17 games leading up to the injury, you should probably just
avoid him.Platoon Possibilities: The Indians face three
left-handers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup
Changes: None.

Colorado RockiesSchedule: CIN4, ARI3Heating Up:
Carlos Gonzalez
is doing his best to get in the MVP race even though
the Rockies are more or less out of the playoff race, batting .526 (20
for 38) with six homers over his last 10 games. The five-category stud
is clearly a must-start in Fantasy.Cooling Off:
Eric Young
is stealing plenty of bases, but he's not doing much to
get on base, batting .138 (4 for 29) over his last seven games. Until he
gets more consistent at the plate, he's not worth owning outside of
deeper Rotisserie leagues.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon
Possibilities: The Rockies face two left-handers this week, which
means
Seth Smith
will sit twice for
Ryan Spilborghs
.Lineup Changes:
Ian Stewart
went on the DL with a strained right oblique Monday.
Melvin Mora
has been starting in his place, but he doesn't have the
upside to matter outside of NL-only leagues.

Detroit TigersSchedule: CHW4, BAL3Heating Up:
Ryan Raburn
is doing everything he can to assure himself a starting
job next year, batting .375 (15 for 40) with four homers over his last
10 games. Make sure he's not on the waiver wire in your league.
Jhonny Peralta
has been surprisingly productive lately, batting .444
(16 for 36) with two homers over his last seven games. If you need help
at the shortstop position, look no further.
Will Rhymes
has hit safely in 12 of 13 games since coming back from
the minor leagues, batting .368 (21 for 57) during that stretch. He
lacks the upside to matter in mixed leagues, though.Cooling Off:
Not only has
Johnny Damon
been sitting
against left-handers recently, but he's batting just .180 (9 for 50)
over his last 12 games. With his decline in power and speed, he's not
giving you much reason to start him in mixed leagues.Injury
Concerns:
Miguel Cabrera
, who would
be a shoo-in for AL MVP if the Tigers were in position to make the
playoffs, left Thursday's game with tendinitis in his left biceps.
That's an injury that could sideline him for a few games, so you'll want
to keep a close eye on him over the weekend. If he comes back or looks
like he's going to come back, you should keep him active.Platoon
Possibilities: The Tigers face two left-handers this week. Rookie
Casper Wells
will likely start those games, replacing either Damon or
Brennan Boesch
.Lineup Changes: Other than the emergence of
Wells as a part-time player, none.

Florida MarlinsSchedule: @PHI4, @WAS3Heating Up:
After getting off to a slow start in the second half,
Hanley Ramirez
is clearly in first-round mode now. He's batting .486
(17 for 35) with three homers, five steals, eight RBI and 13 runs scored
during a nine-game hitting streak.Cooling Off:
Giancarlo Stanton
homered Wednesday, but unless he hits a couple more
homers over the weekend, you wouldn't want to take the chance on him in
Fantasy. He's batting .082 (4 for 49) over his last 14 games.Injury
Concerns:
Dan Uggla
has been out
since Sunday with a strained right groin. He could return as early as
Friday, but even if he gets pushed back another day or two, you should
probably give him the benefit of the doubt. He has performed like an
elite second baseman this year.Platoon Possibilities: The
Marlins face two left-handers this week, but they don't have any
lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

Houston AstrosSchedule: @CHC3, LAD4Heating Up:
Michael Bourn
has hit safely in 11 straight games, batting .386 (17 for
44) with six stolen bases during that stretch. He has been hovering
around the .250 mark for the last three months, so if there was ever a
time to activate him, this is it.
Hunter Pence
has homered in back-to-back games and continues to thrive in the second
half, batting .331 (60 for 181) with nine homers.Cooling Off:
Chris Johnson
, who was a terror to begin the second half, has slowed
down recently, batting .167 (3 for 18) over his last five games and .222
(14 for 63) over his last 16. He's looking like one of those players
who's either unbenchable or usable. Guess which he is right now.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Astros face
three lefties this week, which means rookie
Brett Wallace
won't get to play as much. He typically sits for
Jason Michaels
against lefties, with
Carlos H. Lee
moving over to first base.Lineup Changes:
Jeff Keppinger
, who missed two weeks with inflammation at the ball
of his foot, returned to the lineup Wednesday. His lack of power makes
him a low-end option at best, though.

Top 10 Hitters Added

* as of Friday, Sept. 3

Player

% Change

1.

Ryan Raburn
, OF, Tigers

23

2.

Jhonny Peralta
, SS, Tigers

9

3.

Freddy Sanchez
, 2B, Giants

9

4.

Marcus Thames
, OF, Yankees

9

5.

Jay Bruce
, OF, Reds

8

6.

Neil Walker
, 2B, Pirates

8

7.

Daric Barton
, 1B, Athletics

8

8.

Logan Morrison
, OF, Marlins

8

9.

Stephen Drew
, SS, Diamondbacks

7

10.

Omar Infante
, 2B, Braves

7

Kansas City RoyalsSchedule: @MIN3, @CHW3Heating
Up:
Yuniesky Betancourt
recent
power surge is starting to look legitimate. The 28-year-old homered both
Tuesday and Wednesday, giving him eight in his last 22 games and 15 on
the season. He certainly has his shortcomings at the plate, but now that
he's hitting homers, he's no worse than, say,
Alex Gonzalez
.Cooling Off: Two recent overachievers,
Wilson Betemit
and
Gregor Blanco
,
have both cooled off in recent days, with Betemit batting .179 (5 for
28) over his last eight games and Blanco batting .188 (6 for 32) over
his last eight.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon
Possibilities: The Royals face two left-handers this week, but they
don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes:
Jason Kendall
will have surgery to repair his torn rotator cuff,
leaving
Brayan Pena
and recently
recalled
Lucas May
to split catcher
duties. Both have some measure of offensive potential, but neither will
likely get enough at-bats to matter outside of deeper leagues.

L.A. AngelsSchedule: CLE3, SEA3Heating Up:
Nobody is exceeding expectations right now.Cooling Off:
Bobby Abreu
had a brief surge in production when he first moved into
the leadoff spot, but he eventually cooled off and has moved back to the
middle of the lineup. He's batting .074 (2 for 27) over his last eight
games and appears destined to hit below .280 for the first time in his
career. He's less than a must-start. So is
Howie Kendrick
, who has gone back and forth all season and is batting
only .125 (3 for 24) over his last six games.
Juan Rivera
has been getting most of the starts at first base
recently, but it hasn't improved his hitting. He's hitless in his last
19 at-bats.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities:
The Angels face one left-hander this week, but they don't have any
lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

L.A. DodgersSchedule: @SD3, @HOU4Heating Up:
Rod Barajas
seems rejuvenated since coming over from the Mets,
batting .348 (8 for 23) with three homers in seven games. If you need
catcher help, he's worth a look.
Casey Blake
has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, batting .326 (14 for 43) with
two homers during that stretch, but at age 37, he doesn't have much left
to offer in Fantasy.Cooling Off:
Andre Ethier
is batting .225 (9 for 40) over his last 10 games and
hasn't come close to putting up the numbers he did before fracturing his
pinkie in May. He's still too productive to sit, though.Injury
Concerns:
Rafael Furcal
, who has
been out since Aug. 2 with a lower back strain, has begun a rehab
assignment for Triple-A Albuquerque and could return over the weekend.
If he does, you'll want to activate him right away. He's one of the few
every-week options at shortstop when healthy.Platoon
Possibilities: The Dodgers face two left-handers this week, but they
don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: The
Dodgers allowed the White Sox to claim
Manny Ramirez
on waivers, which opens the door for
Scott Podsednik
to get everyday at-bats again. Podsednik isn't going
to be the reason you win your Fantasy league, but he's a good enough
hitter and base-stealer to have some low-end appeal in mixed leagues.

Milwaukee BrewersSchedule: STL3, CHC3Heating
Up:
Ryan Braun
, who hasn't
performed up to his usual first-round standards this season, has been
doing his best to make up for it lately, batting .476 (10 for 21) with a
homer over his last five games and .400 (26 for 65) with three homers
over his last 16. He's still a must-start in Fantasy even with the
decline in production.Cooling Off:
Rickie Weeks
has managed to stay healthy this season and has emerged
as a high-end Fantasy option as a result, but he's batting just .185 (5
for 27) over his last seven games. Still, you should keep him active.
Corey Hart
is a little different. He has only two homers since the
All-Star break and is batting only .129 (4 for 31) over his last eight
games. In shallower leagues, you wouldn't be out of your mind to sit him.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Brewers face
one left-hander this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup
Changes: None.

Minnesota TwinsSchedule: KC3, @CLE3Heating Up:
Danny Valencia
has collected multiple hits in three straight games,
batting .615 (8 for 13) during that stretch. He's batting .338 for the
season, which makes him well worth starting in AL-only leagues.
Unfortunately, his lack of power makes him just a low-end option in
mixed leagues.Cooling Off:
J.J. Hardy
continues to battle a wrist injury, and it shows. He's batting .147 (5
for 34) over his last 13 games. He's not much of a power hitter anymore,
so you really have no reason to start in mixed leagues.Injury
Concerns:
Jason Kubel
, who hasn't
played since getting hit by a pitch on the left hand Tuesday, has yet to
begin swinging a bat. He might return over the weekend, but if he
doesn't, you wouldn't want to take a chance on a borderline option like
him.
Jim Thome
, who is even less appealing
in Fantasy because of his inconsistent playing time, has missed a week
with a stiff back, but he is available to pinch hit, suggesting a return
is coming.
Orlando Hudson
has been in
and out of the lineup with a sore foot and is too risky for mixed-league
use right now.Platoon Possibilities: The Twins don't face a
single left-handed pitcher this week, which doesn't mean much since they
don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

N.Y. MetsSchedule: @WAS3, PHI3Heating Up:
Josh Thole
still doesn't have enough power for mixed-league use, but
he's proving to be a capable offensive catcher, batting .333 (8 for 24)
over his last eight games.Cooling Off:
David Wright
keeps shifting from cold to hot and back again, batting
.160 (4 for 25) over his last seven games, but he just homered Thursday,
so he might be about to take off again. He's a must-start regardless.Injury
Concerns:
Jose Reyes
, who has been
out since Aug. 26 with a strained right oblique, took batting practice
Thursday and could return over the weekend. As long as he doesn't suffer
a setback, you'll want to get him active.
Angel Pagan
hasn't started since Monday because of tendinitis in his
right wrist, but he was able to play the field Thursday. Until he gets
an actual at-bat, you shouldn't trust him to start for you in Fantasy.Platoon
Possibilities: The Mets face one left-hander this week, but they
don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: The Mets
traded
Jeff Francoeur
to the Rangers on
Tuesday, creating an opening in their outfield.
Chris Carter
and
Lucas Duda
will
likely split time there, but since both bat left-handed, the exact
distribution of at-bats is unclear. Both have some power potential, but
you can leave them for NL-only leagues.

N.Y. YankeesSchedule: BAL3, @TEX3Heating Up:
Curtis Granderson
has three homers in his last three games, bouncing
back from a 2-for-19 (.105) stretch. He still sits a good bit against
lefties, but when he's hot enough, you can overlook it.
Mark Teixeira
looks like he's in for another strong finish, batting
.435 (20 for 46) with four homers over his last 14 games. You'd never
sit him.Cooling Off:
Derek Jeter
is batting .103 (4 for 39) over his last 10 games, dropping his season
batting average to .266. He's having the worst season of his career, but
at the shortstop position, you still can't do much better.Injury
Concerns:
Alex Rodriguez
(calf), who
is eligible to come off the disabled list Sunday, took batting practice
Thursday and felt good. Manager Joe Torre has suggested A-Rod will
return when eligible, but the third baseman wants to make sure he's 100
percent first. Chances are he'll play more often than not this week, so
unless you have another stud third baseman, you should get him active.
Nick Swisher
, who has been dealing with a sore left knee since
fouling a ball off it Aug. 24, had to leave Thursday's game early
because of the injury. Monitor him closely over the weekend. He's a
must-start when healthy.Platoon Possibilities: The Yankees
face two left-handers this week.
Marcus Thames
will surely start those games, but he could replace
Lance Berkman
some against righties as well. Granderson and
Austin Kearns
are in more of a strict platoon.Lineup Changes:
None.

Oakland AthleticsSchedule: SEA3, BOS3Heating
Up:
Daric Barton
has hit safely in
14 of his last 16 games, batting .408 (20 for 49) during that stretch,
and has even shown some uncharacteristic power lately, homering three
times in his last seven games. He'll have to hit a few more homers than
that to gain mixed-league viability, but he's worth watching.
Kevin Kouzmanoff
has homered in three of his last seven games and is
batting .306 (11 for 36) over his last nine. He's a notoriously streaky
player, so if you're looking for a stopgap third baseman, he might do
the trick.Cooling Off:
Coco Crisp
,
who reaffirmed his value in mixed leagues with a hot streak over the
first three weeks of August, is batting .154 (6 for 39) over his last
nine games. He's not so good that you have to start him every week.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Athletics face
three left-handers this week, but they don't have any lefty-righty
platoons.Lineup Changes:
Jeff Larish
has started eight of the team's last 10 games even though he doesn't
have a set position, effectively replacing
Gabe Gross
in the lineup. He has enough pop to make an impact in
deeper AL-only leagues, but his ceiling isn't especially high.

Best Five Hitting Schedules

Team

Schedule

1.

Reds

@COL4, PIT3

2.

Rockies

CIN4, ARI3

3.

White Sox

@DET4, KC3

4.

Twins

KC3, @CLE3

5.

Dodgers

@SD3, @HOU4

Philadelphia PhilliesSchedule: FLA4, @NYM3Heating
Up:
Chase Utley
, who hit .184 (9 for
49) with two extra-base hits -- both doubles -- in his first 13 games
back from a thumb injury, has suddenly regained his stroke, batting .538
(7 for 13) with a homer and eight RBI over his last three games. Get him
active in all formats.Cooling Off:
Placido Polanco
is batting .200 (7 for 35) over his last eight games,
but because he qualifies at second and third base, you're probably too
reliant on him to sit him.
Raul Ibanez
is
a different story. The 38-year-old has struggled virtually all season,
so you have no reason to start him now that he's batting .120 (3 for 25)
over his last six games.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon
Possibilities: The Phillies face two left-handers this week, but
they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes:
None.

Pittsburgh PiratesSchedule: ATL3, @CIN3Heating
Up: Don't look now, but
Neil Walker
is quickly becoming an attractive mixed-league option. The rookie has
homered in four of his last five games and is batting .425 (17 for 40)
during a nine-game hitting streak. If you need help at either second or
third base, his .839 OPS suggests he's able to provide it.Cooling
Off:
Pedro Alvarez
has hit safely
in just four of his last 13 games, batting .125 (6 for 48) during that
stretch. He's a free-swinging rookie, so you had to expect him to endure
these kinds of stretches.Injury Concerns: None.Platoon
Possibilities: The Pirates don't face a single left-handed pitcher
this week, which doesn't mean much since they don't have any
lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

San Diego PadresSchedule: LAD3, SF4Heating Up:
David Eckstein
has played pretty well since returning from his calf
injury, batting .313 (10 for 32) over his last eight games, but the slap
hitter is an NL-only option at best.Cooling Off:
Ryan Ludwick
has experienced more downs than ups so far in his
Padres career, batting .189 (10 for 53) over his last 15 games. He'll
hit the occasional homer but isn't particularly exciting in mixed
leagues.
Will Venable
has just one hit
in his last 19 at-bats, but he has been hitting under .240 virtually all
season.Injury Concerns:
Yorvit Torrealba
has missed back-to-back games with a stiff back, but considering he's
hitting only .140 (8 for 57) over his last 16, you wouldn't want him
active in Fantasy anyway.Platoon Possibilities: The Padres
face three left-handers this week.
Will Venable
will certainly sit out those games, with either
Scott Hairston
or
Aaron Cunningham
starting in his place.Lineup Changes: None.

Worst Five Hitting Schedules

Team

Schedule

1.

Rays

@BOS3, @TOR3

2.

Mariners

@OAK3, @LAA3

3.

Red Sox

TB3, @OAK3

4.

Orioles

@NYY3, @DET3

5.

Indians

@LAA3, MIN3

San Francisco GiantsSchedule: @ARI3, @SD4Heating
Up:
Freddy Sanchez
has responded to
his demotion to the No. 8 spot with a nine-game hitting streak -- and
not just any nine-game hitting streak, but one in which he has six
multi-hit games. He's batting .556 (20 for 36) during that stretch,
moving back up to the No. 2 spot and regaining some mixed-league appeal
even though he lacks power.Cooling Off:
Juan Uribe
is batting .083 (1 for 12) and .167 (8 for 48) over his
last 14, but manager Bruce Bochy has confirmed he'll remain the starter
at shortstop to close out the season. He's still a decent Fantasy option
because of his power.
Pat Burrell
, who
was looking like a sleeper a couple weeks ago, is batting .167 (9 for
54) over his last 16 games and is in danger of losing at-bats to
Cody Ross
.
Aubrey Huff
has one hit
in his last 20 at-bats, but you wouldn't sit him.Injury Concerns:
None.Platoon Possibilities: The Giants face two left-handers
this week. Ross is likely to start those games, filling in for one of
Burrell,
Jose Guillen
, and
Andres Torres
.Lineup Changes: None.

Seattle MarinersSchedule: @OAK3, @LAA3Heating
Up:
Ichiro Suzuki
is batting .444 (8
for 18) over his last four games, but he's made a career out of
performances like that. Keep him active.Cooling Off:
Josh Wilson
, who had some AL-only appeal earlier in the year, is
showing why he's been a reserve his entire career, batting .179 (5 for
28) over his last nine games. He's a last resort even in deeper formats.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Mariners face
three left-handers this week, which doesn't mean much since they don't
have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: None.

St. Louis CardinalsSchedule: @MIL3, @ATL4Heating
Up:
Yadier Molina
has hit safely in
nine of his last 10 games, batting .350 (14 for 40) during that stretch.
He seems to have rebounded from his earlier struggles and is a decent
low-end starter in mixed leagues despite his lack of power.Cooling
Off:
Colby Rasmus
finally returned
to the lineup Monday after missing two weeks with a calf injury, but
manager Tony La Russa acknowledged he wouldn't get to play every single
day. Since he has just one hit in his last 17 at-bats, you should
probably avoid him in mixed leagues.
Jon Jay
continues to get consistent at-bats, but he hasn't been hitting as well
lately, batting .133 (4 for 30) over his last seven games.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Cardinals face
three left-handers this week. Jay and
Skip Schumaker
could sit for
Randy Winn
and
Felipe Lopez
in those games, but
neither is in a certain platoon.Lineup Changes: Other than
the return of Rasmus, none.

Tampa Bay RaysSchedule: @BOS3, @TOR3Heating Up:
Evan Longoria
is batting .407 (11 for 27) over his last eight games
and .382 (21 for 55) with four homers over his last 15, but that's
really nothing new for him.Cooling Off:
Melvin Upton
also isn't doing anything new, but he's at the other end
of the spectrum. He's batting .122 (5 for 41) over his last 12 games and
is less than a must-start.
Ben Zobrist
has been just as unreliable lately, batting .171 (22 for 129) since the
All-Star break. Time to look into other options if you haven't already.
Carl Crawford
, on the other hand, you should continue to trust even
though he's batting .185 (5 for 27) over his last eight games.Injury
Concerns: None.Platoon Possibilities: The Rays face three
lefties this week, but their outfield-DH picture has become so crowded
that the handedness of the opposing pitcher hardly matters anymore.Lineup
Changes: With Wednesday's roster expansion, the Rays added new
acquisition
Brad Hawpe
and top prospect
Desmond Jennings
to the mix. Both were in the lineup Wednesday.
Matt Joyce
,
Dan Johnson
and
Sean Rodriguez
could lose at-bats with their arrival, but nobody can
say how many. Until this situation sorts itself out, you wouldn't want
to use any of these players in mixed leagues.

Texas RangersSchedule: @TOR4, NYY3Heating Up:
Mitch Moreland
homered both Tuesday and Wednesday and has done
nothing but impress since coming up from the minors. Still, as a platoon
player, he hardly matters outside of AL-only leagues.Cooling Off:
Vladimir Guerrero
second half continues to take on a very different
feel from his first. He's batting .250 (42 for 168) since the All-Star
break and .143 (3 for 21) over his last five games. He's not beyond
sitting in shallower leagues.Injury Concerns:
Josh Hamilton
, who has been battling soreness in his right knee all
season, got a third injection in it Tuesday. He bounced back from the
first two injections just fine, so you shouldn't be overly concerned
about him in Fantasy.
Ian Kinsler
, who
has been out since July 27 with a strained right groin, has already been
activated and should return to the lineup Friday. Assuming he doesn't
suffer a setback over the weekend, you should get him active.Platoon
Possibilities: The Rangers face two left-handers this week.
Julio Borbon
and Moreland will likely sit out those games in favor of
Jorge Cantu
and
Jeff Francoeur
.Lineup
Changes: The Rangers acquired Francoeur from the Mets on Tuesday,
but he'll be no more than a platoon player. Leave him for AL-only
leagues.

Toronto Blue JaysSchedule: TEX4, TB3Heating Up:
Jose Bautista
has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games, batting
.409 (18 for 44) with six homers during that stretch, but by now, you
know to start him regardless of what he's doing.
Aaron Hill
has lost his must-start status this season, but he has
been performing better lately, batting .286 (8 for 28) with three homers
over his last eight games.Cooling Off:
Vernon Wells
has dipped below the .270 mark again. After a brief hot
stretch in the middle of August, he's batting .160 (4 for 25) over his
last five games.
Fred Lewis
is batting
.139 (5 for 36) over his last 10 games, but he's just a low-end option.Injury
Concerns:
Yunel Escobar
has been out
since Sunday with back stiffness, but the Blue Jays expect him to return
Saturday. He's always dealing with one injury or another, preventing him
from gaining any momentum at the plate. Even if he returns, he's just a
borderline Fantasy option.
Lyle Overbay
hasn't played in a week because of a mysterious illness. He's suffering
from concussion-like symptoms, but he never had a concussion. He was
able to take batting practice Tuesday, so he's probably close to
returning, but if he remains out over the weekend, you wouldn't want to
take any chances with him. Lewis left Wednesday's game with a strained
right elbow, which is an injury that could sideline him for a few games.
You'd have to play in a pretty deep league to use him, though, and if
that's case, you might not have a viable replacement for him anyway.Platoon
Possibilities: The Blue Jays face two left-handers this week, but
they don't have any lefty-righty platoons.Lineup Changes: The
Blue Jays recalled slugging prospect
J.P. Arencibia
when rosters expanded Wednesday, and he could get a
decent number of at-bats at DH the rest of the way. Even if he only
starts three or four games a week, he could be a factor in Fantasy given
his power potential at the weak catcher position.

Washington NationalsSchedule: NYM3, FLA3Heating
Up:
Roger Bernadina
has been playing
against both righties and lefties and has seen an increase in production
with the increase in playing time. He's batting .290 (9 for 31) with two
homers and two steals over his last seven games and is worth owning in
deeper Rotisserie leagues.
Michael Morse
has been even better, batting .542 (13 for 24) with a homer over his
last six games, though he doesn't have quite the same upside.
Adam Dunn
is hot again after a brief cold stretch in the middle of
August, batting .600 (9 for 15) with two homers over his last five games.Cooling
Off:
Nyjer Morgan
is batting .143
(4 for 28) over his last nine games and has generally been making a fool
of himself. Now clearly isn't the time to use him.Injury Concerns:
None.Platoon Possibilities: The Nationals face one
left-hander this week.
Adam Kennedy
will
likely sit out that game in favor of
Alberto Gonzalez
, but prospect
Danny Espinosa
,
who had 22 homers and 25 steals in the minors this season, could factor
in that mix as well. You're better off leaving all three of these
players for NL-only leagues.Lineup Changes: None.

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Raised in Atlanta by a board game-loving family during the dawn of the '90s Braves dynasty, Scott White was easy prey for the Fantasy Sports, in particular Fantasy Baseball, and has devoted his adulthood...
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